Comments on: Awards Bias

By: Signaleer

Signaleer — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 06:49:36 +0000

1SG,

I see no change. Awards are still based primarily on rank. As such, they are meaningless. There should be a way for soldiers to recognize their peers without the imposition of rank. Even if they are not counted on records or worth “points toward promotion.” I cannot write MSMs for those that deserve them, my command will not “bother” a general to even read them.

By: PO2

PO2 — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 17:40:08 +0000

I totally agree with this. It is a problem in all fields of service so it seems. I got to this site trying to find help writing up a good award for one of my guys that I am being told to write up a NAM for. The issue I have with this is that I am being asked to write an award to someone who is just doing their job and our job at the moment isn’t really that hard. So how am I suppose to write up an award for someone when in my heart I don’t really feel they deserve it?

By: 1SG Robert

1SG Robert — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 23:45:24 +0000

1SG

Great points and well taken. I came to this posting and had to read your whole point. I am under the gun to write MSM awards to soldiers who yes did all we asked of them. They came to work on time. They did extra hours. A couple of them even deployed. My issue is that I dont see how to write an award to a soldier who after 30 years was still only an E5/SGT. I am told that it is something I have to do yet I find it just hard to justify it. Hell I busted my ass too and all I have after 32 years is 4 AAM’s from the units I have served in. Even a deployment earned me only an AAM (my unit did the 50/50 thing AAM and ARCOM and because I got promoted to SFC in theater I only deserved the AAM). I will write them up as best I can. If they fly great. If not I can only do my best. Maybe I will get schooled here.

Thanks for the points. I completely agree with you and I am venting too. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

By: Jason

Jason — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 11:14:33 +0000

I wish I would have had your first commander. On my last PCS award my first bullet was a year in Kuwait, the next bullet was 3 months in Egypt and the next two were TDY and other missions I accomplished. I never got a tour award for Egypt or Kuwait because they kept telling me they were saving up for an MSM. Well I didn’t worry about it because it’s just an award but in the end the recommender sent it up as an ARCOM.

By: Jay Mahn

Jay Mahn — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 19:40:22 +0000

You know I am fighting this right now with my LT from Viet Nam. I was in a ARP/LRP unit of the 11th ACR..recently We discovered that many of the soldiers didn’t even get CIB’s even though all had or were involved in 4 or more major contacts where we lost KIA’s and many WIA’s. I found out recently that the pilots all had DFC’s Silver Stars,BSM/V’s AM’s, Arcoms you name it. Even though the guys were put in for various awards non or few received anything now we are fighting to right the wrongs. We found out that the Awards officer trashed most of ours. For what reasons who knows. One Medic was put in for the MOH heard nothing and was then given a Silver star 10 years later with NO orders.
Presented by a Congressman. This whole deal stinks. Rank has its privilege..

By: CJ

CJ — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 22:00:16 +0000

I sure am. Just send me an email either to cj[at]soldiersperspective.us or through my AKO.

By: TKOEF

TKOEF — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 21:30:34 +0000

Top,
This was posted some time ago. I’m just wondering if you’re available to answer a question I have?

By: Sandygos

Sandygos — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 03:12:26 +0000

Totally agree with you. I saw this problem myself. As a 1LT I was denied an AAM because “I already had one and LT’s should only have one”. Funny thing…I busted my arse so much he couldn’t get away with doing that again and I got two others before he left command…

By: GIles

GIles — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 14:30:14 +0000

This very a very good post. I have served for over 13 years. I have list of accomplishments that I have all the documents and evidence from my accomplishments. It is good to know that my previous leadership has been given awards. I have documented that as well.

In peacetime and deployment, I have seen awards go to people with UCMJ actions, investigations, Height/Weight issues, and for doing nothing.

I have never had a UCMJ action and have met the standards.

I have given plenty of awards for my Soldiers. My mentors trained me right. (know your troops)

Yet, I have never received an award.Quite frankly, I don’t care for them anyway. INmy opinion, it is results that matter not the awards. This experience has only makes me a stronger leader.

By: SGT Swartz

SGT Swartz — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 22:39:34 +0000

Top,
I was just promoted on June 1st this year and am in the process of writing my first award for one of my soldiers. He is a SPC and has been recommended for an ARCOM by another unit’s CWO3 for bringing in a mission that no one at site could accomplish (we’re strategic SATCOM). The award was downgraded to a Certificate of Appreciation, not even a Certificate of Achievement!

For 2 months at the beginning of the year he worked as our STEP NCOIC, a position normally manned by a SSG or higer. He received no recognition for this. Now he is back on shift under myself and he was again pulled to the STEP office because the SSG who normally holds that position had to go out on emergency leave. For the past two weeks he has been pulling double duty working 15 hr. shifts also responsible for STEP and Circuit Actions. I found your entry VERY helpful and just want you to know that you have supplied me with knowledge as to how the system works and what to expect.

Thank You,
SGT Swartz